A government that lies to its citizens doesn't deserve to be called a democracy

Ray McGovern's commentary on National Security Agency eavesdropping was a blast of fresh air ("Clean house over NSA spying," July 8). It was wonderful to read it on the same day I attended a vigil on behalf of Pfc. Bradley Manning at Fort Meade.

What can be more undemocratic than government operatives lying to the citizens? If you can't be honest with the taxpayers, you should find another job. I am in complete agreement that President Obama should fire Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and NSA Director Keith Alexander.

The piece reminded me that after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, not one head of an agency resigned for failure to protect us on that infamous day. Anyone with character would have been shamed by their failure to prevent that attack.

Yet instead of mass resignations, the Bush administration went on to orchestrate a bogus claim of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Of course, there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and that country has yet to recover from the disastrous U.S. invasion.

Sadly, President Obama has failed to build up a legacy. But there is still time. Fire Messrs. Clapper and Alexander, renounce all programs that snoop on U.S. citizens and our European allies and severely cut the Pentagon's budget. Use the money instead to provide jobs for infrastructure repair. Finally, end all killer drone strikes. Now that would be a legacy.